[ he's 17 going on like 28 so valid? she could call him AA-kun if she really gets to know him though. ]
It's worth the money, but it's better if you don't need to worry about the pricetag in the first place. [ does khun look at pricetags anyway? yes, to make sure he's not getting ripped off, not because he's worried about his bottom line.
but whee market. ]
Hmm...this looks a bit more free form than I'm used to. Usually there's a catalogue of some sort, but I guess we'll have to go merchant by merchant here.
Well, I'll admit I wouldn't say no to a good meal after this. But I have been looking for a few more things to spruce up my room.
[Putting the crab down because Khun doesn't seem like a fan, what a shame. She'll gesture at the other figurines which are hopefully less disturbing than the crab.]
Sounds good! I've been meaning to explore this world's cuisine more, so we can just go and find a place that looks nice.
[Honestly, she's not expecting him to treat her though so if he offers that would be like a bonus?? But also she would probably make his wallet regret it rip.
But hey, that one's pretty nice too.]
Oh, the pose is really cute! Are you a fan of reptiles?
[ honestly he would be impressed if she could manage that because he is sir "i rented out the entire cafe and paid people to sit in and have lunch so my business meeting is ostensibly in public but actually private". do you eat more than a giant crocodile maya. ]
I think if I said that, he'd get a big head even from here. [ a smile and shake of his head. ] I have one as a teammate back home. He used to be about three meters tall, but he insulted the wrong person and now pretty much looks like this.
[ poking the figure playfully in his palm and tipping it over. ]
[well she made her co-worker want to almost puke when going to an all-you-can-eat ramen restaurant so idk!!! maybe she and this giant croc can have an eating contest one day!!! (she'd probably lose tho)]
A crocodile teammate!? That sounds more like a demon to me...
[But in fairness, a small pudgy crocodile isn't terribly threatening, so maybe that's part of it too?]
He acts like one sometimes. He doesn't like being called a crocodile either, but he calls all humans turtles, so it's fair play, really. [ yeah he's buying this thing. ]
[There's something ironic about a reptile naming humans after another type of reptile, but maybe it's like a person calling someone else a monkey?? Anyway, she'll let Khun go about his purchase as she lightly browses the other wares. Maybe she'll come back at a later point to buy the crab figurine (or find it tragically shattered to a thousand pieces so it can't traumatize anyone ever again), but for now, she's ready to move on once he's finished.]
If he isn't actually a crocodile or a demon, then what does he call himself?
His species is a Wraithraiser, they're one of the few native populations of the tower. Usually he just calls himself the "Great and Powerful Rak" or something else along those lines.
[ small croc acquired! also give him a second to process what Maya just said in its entirety. tilting his head at her curiously. ]
Does that mean you've met actual literal demons before?
[Wraithraiser definitely sounds like something that you could spin a rumor or two out of. Also the 'population of the tower' thing definitely warrants a question too, but looks like the ball's back in her court for now.]
Yeah, I have. They're not something most people would know about, but one thing just led to another, so I've gotten used to seeing them around. They can be pretty helpful if you say the right things!
It wasn't my first choice, it just kind of happened.
[ neither of his core teammates were intentional but they were happy accidents. it makes him smile genuinely, before he switches gears. ]
Yeah, but the Tower is pretty much my entire world. Not literally, there's land beyond it, but you can't access it. Not that you would want to anyway. And it's much larger than even this country.
[Noting that smile! The words may be rather nonchalant, but those types of expressions often told the real story. But that train of thought is easily derailed at the explanation.]
A tower wide enough for a country?! That almost sounds like something out of a myth... who built it?
The real sky? Yeah. [ there's something understated in the way he says it. ]
But we have projections based on the old lore and... [ he looks up at the sky, like not directly into the sun because he's not part of the Eclipse challenge, hand partially obscuring his face. ]
I imagine it'd be more of a culture shock if it wasn't, huh.
[Although the mention of projections makes it sound more sci-fi than fantasy, now.]
But that must mean it's pretty tough to travel between floors, if they each stretch high enough that you can project a view of the sky. Are there really fast elevators you can use?
Not even close. You need to pass an exam to start climbing in the first place and you need to continue to pass trials the further up you go. Most people don't make it to the top, they either give up or die somewhere far below—the percentage who make it past the twentieth floor is below one percent even though there's one hundred and thirty four floors in all.
If you're wondering why people climb, it's because reaching the pinnacle grants you a wish afforded to you by the Tower itself. Money, power, whatever you want the Tower has a way to grant it.
[this sounds like the most extreme stair-climbing simulator known to mankind-- no wait that's p3 nvm
In any case, Maya is appropriately surprised considering she's learning a lot about how this tower is not only just a tower but apparently a wish-granting entity(?). Soh amazing.]
Wow! That sounds pretty intense... I can see why people would want to make the trip. Is there a wish you're trying to have granted?
I'll reach the Top and become head of the Khun family. [ he smiles naturally, full of confidence, hiding a lot of layers and colors and the general mess of Everything that is when it comes to his father. ]
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It's worth the money, but it's better if you don't need to worry about the pricetag in the first place. [ does khun look at pricetags anyway? yes, to make sure he's not getting ripped off, not because he's worried about his bottom line.
but whee market. ]
Hmm...this looks a bit more free form than I'm used to. Usually there's a catalogue of some sort, but I guess we'll have to go merchant by merchant here.
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Ahaha... Wow, you must be pretty well off then.
[It's not like her salary's even bad either, it's just like damn, this guy is probably one rich bitch (paraphrased)?? But yay market.]
A catalogue would be convenient, but it can be fun to just browse too... Oh hey, it looks like they have some cute figurines here!
[Hair care quest is already derailed because she's now poking at a couple of small glass animals on display.]
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[ nah he is absolutely a rich bitch.
khun will not forget hair care quest but he also doesn't mind getting a bit distracted. he has to get the lay of the land anyway.
animal figurines, huh. ]
One catch your eye?
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[She'll just hold up a small crab figurine that looks mildly unsettling because of the way its eyes bug out! You know the one.]
Seems like the kind that would be pretty tasty if it were real, huh?
[are we still okay with hair care quest having been delayed for this or]
FISHY WHY
Is this your way of telling me you're hungry?
sparkles at you
[Putting the crab down because Khun doesn't seem like a fan, what a shame. She'll gesture at the other figurines which are hopefully less disturbing than the crab.]
Anything you'd be interested in picking up?
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[ he'll pay even if money is somewhat fake here, his values are still important.
looking at the figurines though- ]
Hmm...maybe this one. It's a pretty life-like rendition. [ he holds up a pudgy looking alligator. aww. ]
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[Honestly, she's not expecting him to treat her though so if he offers that would be like a bonus?? But also she would probably make his wallet regret it rip.
But hey, that one's pretty nice too.]
Oh, the pose is really cute! Are you a fan of reptiles?
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I think if I said that, he'd get a big head even from here. [ a smile and shake of his head. ] I have one as a teammate back home. He used to be about three meters tall, but he insulted the wrong person and now pretty much looks like this.
[ poking the figure playfully in his palm and tipping it over. ]
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A crocodile teammate!? That sounds more like a demon to me...
[But in fairness, a small pudgy crocodile isn't terribly threatening, so maybe that's part of it too?]
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He acts like one sometimes. He doesn't like being called a crocodile either, but he calls all humans turtles, so it's fair play, really. [ yeah he's buying this thing. ]
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If he isn't actually a crocodile or a demon, then what does he call himself?
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[ small croc acquired! also give him a second to process what Maya just said in its entirety. tilting his head at her curiously. ]
Does that mean you've met actual literal demons before?
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[Wraithraiser definitely sounds like something that you could spin a rumor or two out of. Also the 'population of the tower' thing definitely warrants a question too, but looks like the ball's back in her court for now.]
Yeah, I have. They're not something most people would know about, but one thing just led to another, so I've gotten used to seeing them around. They can be pretty helpful if you say the right things!
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[ he believes her because of everything he's seen here, though it's still pretty confusing for him. ]
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I could say the same thing! Teaming up with someone who looks like a crocodile sounds like something straight out of a fantasy novel.
You also mentioned a tower before. Is that where before you were taken here?
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[ neither of his core teammates were intentional but they were happy accidents. it makes him smile genuinely, before he switches gears. ]
Yeah, but the Tower is pretty much my entire world. Not literally, there's land beyond it, but you can't access it. Not that you would want to anyway. And it's much larger than even this country.
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A tower wide enough for a country?! That almost sounds like something out of a myth... who built it?
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God? No one knows. [ get it. hehe. ]
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If it's been around for a long time, I guess you're bound to lose some of the history...
Oh, but if you haven't been outside the tower before, does that mean this is the first time you've seen the sky?
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But we have projections based on the old lore and... [ he looks up at the sky, like not directly into the sun because he's not part of the Eclipse challenge, hand partially obscuring his face. ]
It's pretty identical.
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[Although the mention of projections makes it sound more sci-fi than fantasy, now.]
But that must mean it's pretty tough to travel between floors, if they each stretch high enough that you can project a view of the sky. Are there really fast elevators you can use?
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Not even close. You need to pass an exam to start climbing in the first place and you need to continue to pass trials the further up you go. Most people don't make it to the top, they either give up or die somewhere far below—the percentage who make it past the twentieth floor is below one percent even though there's one hundred and thirty four floors in all.
If you're wondering why people climb, it's because reaching the pinnacle grants you a wish afforded to you by the Tower itself. Money, power, whatever you want the Tower has a way to grant it.
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In any case, Maya is appropriately surprised considering she's learning a lot about how this tower is not only just a tower but apparently a wish-granting entity(?). Soh amazing.]
Wow! That sounds pretty intense... I can see why people would want to make the trip. Is there a wish you're trying to have granted?
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